CN104582938A

CN104582938A - Apparatus for applying heat shrinkable casings onto preinsulated pipe joints

Info

Publication number: CN104582938A
Application number: CN201480002235.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·泰勒; P·拉夫瑞尔; J·J·寇德卡; M·布兰登; P·波兹考斯基; P·M·亚博
Original assignee: Shawcor Ltd
Current assignee: Shawcor Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-23
Filing date: 2014-07-22
Publication date: 2015-04-29
Also published as: EA027607B1; US9821508B2; EA027607B8; EP3024636A4; US20160001494A1; EA201492294A1; EP3024636A1; CA2875166A1; WO2015010204A1

Abstract

A heating device for heating a heat shrinkable casing disposed around a joint of two pre-insulated pipes. The heating device comprises a plurality of modular components. Each of the components comprises a frame comprising a mount, a heater, and a heat shield. The mount rests on an outer surface jacket of the pre-insulated pipe. Each of the components is connected to adjacent components at a hinge region in the frame to form a flexible articulated length surrounding the pipes.

Description

For equipment in the pipe coupling of pre insulated can be applied to by thermal shrinkage housing

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of automatic heating constriction device and using method thereof, this device can be used for being formed the connection between two tubular sections with polymeric outer surface sheath, be such as district heating insulated pipe line two portion's sections between connection.

Background technique

Usually, the pre insulated pipeline such as used in district heating pipeline comprises the inner metal tube with suitable cellular insulation, and described foam-coating has polymeric outer surface sheath.Pre insulated pipeline is manufactured into multistage, and each section has the short region that there is not foam coating and outer surface sheath in every an end portion, to allow to weld together in the exposed end of pipe coupling place by pipeline.Once pipeline welds together in pipe coupling place, just use multiple can covering and protective conduit joint by the one in housing.Such as, what housing can apply in the pipe coupling around welding can the form of thermal shrinkage housing.In this case, housing is assembled to pipe coupling, and then thermal shrinkage is on the edge of the polymer surfaces sheath of adjacent joint.The housing in the vertical enough wide polymer surfaces sheath with two portion's sections with pipeline is overlapping.Overlapping region has suitable tackiness agent to provide sealing between housing and sheath, as such as at U. S. Patent 4, and 521, described in 470, this patent is incorporated herein by reference.

Such housing can be preformed cylindrical housings, and its (under pre-contraction state) has the diameter more bigger than pipeline.Housing like this, before pipe coupling is soldered, housing, around a ducted slip, is then located around pipe coupling after two pipeline weldings.Such housing also can be made up of flexible sheet material or film, and this flexible sheet material or film are located around the periphery of pipe coupling after pipe coupling is soldered.In this case, flexible sheet material or film have the relative overlapping edge of two of straddling pipe joint longitudinal register usually; Before housing thermal shrinkage, the edge of these overlaps bonds or fuses together.

In many cases, use tackiness agent housing to be adhered to the polymeric outer surface sheath of pipeline, this tackiness agent be applied to outer surface sheath or as housing independent internal layer and be pre-existing in.

Once housing bonds or is fused to the polymeric outer surface sheath of pipeline on the either side of pipe coupling, just be filled in the region around pipe coupling between housing and pipeline with suitable insulating material, the form of this insulating material usually in foam, it is injected by pressure by the aperture in housing.Second orifice in housing allows air by foam dislocation to leave this region.By this way, housing is in fact just forming such mould, this mould is centered around the conduit region of the exposure around pipe coupling, then it fill with cellular insulation thing, and this cellular insulation thing preferably and the foam coating typically existed in insulation characterisitic and/or composition and below outer surface sheath is similar.

Usually, once housing and foam are applied in, pipe coupling just has the characteristic similar with the remaining part of pipeline or better characteristic in intensity, rigidity and insulation values.

Therefore, a kind of known method installing pipeline at the scene comprises: (1) welds together in the exposed end of pipe coupling place by pipeline; (2) apply, in the housing of the flexible sheet material form with the first sticker layer and the second polymer layer, to make flexible sheet material overlapping with the outer surface sheath of two pipelines be connected; (3) overlapping edge of flexible sheet material is bonded with the housing formed around pipe coupling, make the first sticker layer become internal layer; (4) make housing around pipe coupling thermal shrinkage, and simultaneously but indirectly the inner binder layer of heated shell housing to be adhered to the polymeric outer surface sheath of two pipelines on the either side of pipe coupling; Then cellular insulation thing is injected in the gap between pipe coupling and housing by (5).Usually, such method also needs the polymeric outer surface sheath preheating two pipe sections, to help activated adhesive and to promote bonding.

The second known method installing pipeline at the scene comprises: (1) makes preformed cylindrical housings slide and dislocation housing around the exposed end of pipeline, the exposed end of pipeline is exposed and can touch; (2) weld together in the exposed end of pipe coupling place by pipeline; (3) housing is back slided, make housing cover pipe coupling and make housing overlapping with the outer surface sheath of two pipe sections be connected; (4) make housing around pipe coupling thermal shrinkage, and simultaneously but indirectly the inner binder layer of heated shell housing to be adhered to the polymeric outer surface sheath of two pipelines on the either side of pipe coupling; Then cellular insulation thing is injected in the gap be formed between pipe coupling and housing by (5).Usually, such method also needs the polymeric outer surface sheath preheating two pipe sections, to help activated adhesive and to promote bonding.

For these two kinds of methods, every side of housing sequentially (by heat being applied to one end of housing, then can be applied to the other end) or side by side (by heat to be applied to the two ends of housing simultaneously) heats and be adhered to outer surface sheath.In many cases, between outer surface sheath and housing, there is the gap of nearly 1 inch; The part difficulty applying housing is to provide homogeneous gap and shrink housing equably around outer surface sheath.

In these known methods, usually can be made up of crosslinked polyethylene or non-cross-linked polyvinyl by thermal shrinkage housing.Shrink the impact being subject to applying heat to housing.The common methods used in the industry is that the flame square of suitable gaseous fuel by using such as propane applies heat.In this process, housing shrinkage and provide circumference stress, also affects the bonding of binder and substrate with the substrate conformed to below.Usually, the end regions overlapping onto the housing on main pipeline sheath is heated and is shunk.The width of these end regions changes from 50mm to 250mm.

When can thermal shrinkage housing to be applied in pipe coupling and to use hand-held torch to shrink time, this manually-operable produces faulty installation due to uneven heating.The skilled use of flame square is very crucial.Such as, the environment that wind is large can make flame spread and the edge of housing is shunk prematurely.In addition, unless moving flame square carefully, otherwise torch flame can make housing burn and cause housing to divide.Under needs heat large-area situation, while housing shrinkage, heat is kept to become difficulty or impossible; This causes the shrinkage of housing, the imperfect installation caused by air entrapment, the tearing or burn of heat-shrinkage material.Sometimes, it also causes heat-shrinkage material around the incorrect or incomplete adhesion of joint (especially at bottom place).District heating pipeline is laid in the trench usually and two pipelines extend in parallel, a pipeline supplying hot water, and cold water is brought back to central station by reflux pipeline.Between these pipelines and in addition usually very narrow to the spacing of the adjacent wall of irrigation canals and ditches, wherein usually only have the free space of 12 inches to 40 inches between tubes, the gap between pipeline and the bottom of groove is then few to 7-9 inch.Therefore, almost there is no space to handle flame square, intactly to apply evenly on housing and effectively to heat.In many cases, the applying of housing and be contracted in remote, inconvenient position and carry out, therefore, very advantageously, heating equipment or equipment or such as flame square are portable and can are easily carried by a people and be handled.In other cases, the applying of housing and contraction are carried out near (being usually less than 25 feet far away) highway or walk very much, and therefore apply and shrink to carry out in safe and effective mode.Many times, open flame square is prohibitted the use.The groove at pipeline place is usually very narrow, and people be not easy while carrying heavy equipment under in groove.Usually, in residential belt, district heating pipeline and other pipeline and communication network sharing channel, and therefore, there are the pipe network of Self-crossover and many obstacles of telecommunications and service cable.Groove is muddy, moist and dirty, and regrettably, usually, region is cleaner and dry, and the bonding between housing and pipeline is better.

Before housing is applied on joint, joint should be prepared in the following manner: joint pipeline coatings is cleaned and give roughness by grinding or slight sandblasting.Joint needs preheating to remove moisture usually, but the more important thing is and reach certain temperature with activated adhesive, thus obtains excellent bonds.Such as, the polyethylene can for wherein typical tackiness agent with the fusing point of about 90 DEG C shrinks housing, and the preheating of pipeline is generally 60-90 DEG C.Certainly, this temperature can change according to application and service condition.

The size of flame square and heated chamber significantly changes with being configured in scene, just as the size of pending pipeline is the same with configuration.Sometimes, large-scale powerful flame square is used.These flame squares often open significantly and do not allow the concentrated heating of housing.Sometimes, use four flame squares to shrink housing to obtain fast speed of production, wherein two operators are on the side of pipeline, and two on another side, especially for large-sized pipeline.This way makes to apply even, consistent heat in whole region to be heated hardly, to control exactly to be applied to the different heats treating constriction zone, or controls the heating sequence of regional exactly.Usually, in order to obtain the appropriate bonding of housing, need the minimum preheating temperature keeping substrate.When adopting less flame square, the outer surface sheath of the opposite end of some region, such as adjacent joint, be often cooled to below minimum preheating temperature, thus housing can not be adhered on it.Therefore, during shrinkage operation, extra long-time heating must be applied to the shell area overlapped onto in main pipeline coating, tackiness agent-outer surface sheath interface is increased to enough temperature to realize reliable bonding.For flame square, this is difficult, because long-time heating can be burnt and be damaged housing, and sometimes causes splitting.Owing to there is gap between housing and substrate jacket ducts, substrate is cooled, and this fact has increased the weight of the demand to extra long-time heating.Therefore, the long-time heating concentrated is necessary for realizing excellent bonds on the sheath of overlap.The existence of wind and atrocious weather only can increase the weight of this problem.For a long time adjacent polymer jacket be burnt and be damaged to extra heating also can, and also produce gassing in cellular insulation thing below.

The ability obtaining the bonding of robust between outer surface sheath and housing is crucial for the long life of holding tube line.Placing under repair to failed joint or changing housing is the very high and difficulty of expense, because pipeline is buried in many cases.A problem of flame square heating is, in the gap between the outer surface sheath that housing is often retracted to two pipelines be connected.This produces difference on pipe diameter, in the insulating material of joint small amount and the reduction at joint housing.Avoid a kind of mode of so less desirable excessive shrinkage to be to provide thermal stabilization shield, which increase expense and complexity.

The invention provides the equipment can avoiding the problems referred to above at least in a preferred embodiment.Specifically, this equipment is compact, lightweight, scalable and modularization, firm and environment can tolerate, inherently and reliably, be in operation similar to existing field apparatus, flexible, adaptive, and manufacture, to use and simple to operate.

Summary of the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention be a kind of equipment for heating elongated tubular bodies, this equipment comprises: framing component, it is suitable for arranging around described goods, described framing component has the multiple heater assemblies being suitable for heating these goods and being attached to described framing component, described framing component has a certain amount of suppleness, make it can be located or wrap up on the article and leave these goods and be clamped to directly or indirectly in such an arrangement on goods, namely, make heater assembly be oriented to substantially heat equably the whole periphery of these goods.This equipment has enough slender profile, make when described elongated tubular bodies has 12 inches or following level (side) spacing and 9 inches or following vertical spacing (below), this equipment easily can be wrapped in around described goods and/or be clamped to described goods.

In addition, the design of described equipment makes it be easily carried on the shoulder of the people using it, and easily can carry it with a hand by a people and for being its power supply of powering.This ability of carrying power subsystem makes it need to have enough low weight, and which has limited the power of unit.Determine, people can carry the weight of maximum 100 pounds.It is found that, the power cell in this weight range can provide the power of maximum 25KW.It is well established that in order to make housing shrinkage after experiment, equipment should have the power in the scope of 0.5 – 20KW, preferably 0.5 – 10KW.Such as, the 6KW power supply deriving from the model P200-AC/DC of Migatronics (Midtronics Inc.) weighs 49 pounds (22kg).Similarly, the unit of 12KW weighs 66 pounds, and the unit of 18KW weighs 73 pounds.

Described equipment has further advantage, that is, it has the flexible design of similar blanket, and it can be wrapped in around the goods of in fact any shape, such as, and only halfpipe goods or there are goods that are bending or defect.

Described equipment also has further advantage, that is, it is modular, make it by add or remove heating module and construct and be wrapped in there is in fact any diameter goods around.

According to some embodiment, elongated tubular body is the housing of the joint in encircled area heat supply pipeline.In some other embodiment, elongated tubular body is district heating pipeline itself.

According to some embodiment, described equipment is constructed such that it does not contact goods when being positioned on goods.

In certain embodiments, described goods are constructed such that it directly can be clamped to pipeline.In other embodiments, described goods are constructed such that in fact it does not contact pipeline itself, but are indirectly clamped to the housing of the joint in encircled area heat supply pipeline.

According to some embodiment, described equipment is constructed such that the outer surface sheath of its contact area heat supply pipeline when being positioned on goods.This contact can be clamping contact.

According to some other embodiment, described equipment is constructed such that the outer surface sheath of its not contact area heat supply pipeline when being positioned on goods.On the contrary, the housing around the joint of its contact self poisoning in district heating pipeline.This contact can be clamping contact.

According to an aspect of the present invention, described equipment also comprises the controller for control heater device.

In certain embodiments, heater assembly comprises multiple separately controllable heating-up zone, and described heating-up zone can be circumference or longitudinal direction.

In other embodiments, heater assembly have fix from one end of heater assembly to the other end but heating progressively.

In certain embodiments, heater assembly comprises the replaceable heating panel of multiple user.

In certain embodiments, heater cartridge is set to infrared heater device, such as, thin punching press sheet material or foil (it can be configured to sinusoidal curve or linear configurations, to form the flat heated of the heat providing relatively uniform), quartz tube or the infrared components of ceramic tile form or the diffusion gas firing unit of such as catalytic surface board heating apparatus.In a preferred embodiment, heater assembly is to provide resistive element that is conventional and infra-red heat.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of can the equipment of thermal shrinkage housing for heating, this can thermal shrinkage housing around pre insulated ducted joint and be arranged on around this joint, described one or more end sections is sealed or is adhered to the outer surface sheath of described pipeline, described equipment comprises: multiple parts, each parts have: framework, and described framework comprises the mounting zone with attachment face; Attached having heaters on described framework, described heater comprises heating plate towards the general direction identical with attachment face and heat-resisting external casing; At least one hinge area, described multiple parts are connected to by this hinge area has the flexibility of two ends, hinged (articulated to be formed each other, joint motions) section, described hinge segment is constructed such that the attachment face of each parts is towards equidirectional; Described multiple parts are electrically connected to each other, electric energy can be provided to heating plate to make single power supply; Described equipment also comprises join domain, and this join domain can two ends of described hinge segment of connecting frame, and with the circular array of forming member, each parts have towards the heating plate at the center of circular array and attachment face and towards outer external casing.

In certain embodiments, hinge area is positioned on framework.

In certain embodiments, heater also comprises the heat screen be positioned at away from framework place.

In certain embodiments, described equipment is also included in the heat-resisting spacer element on described heating plate, contacts described outer surface sheath to prevent described heating plate when operating.Heat-resisting spacer element can be pottery.

In certain embodiments, join domain is fixture, such as, has 1 to 12 inch, the preferably fixture of stroke of about 4 inches.

In certain embodiments, attachment face comprises the bilayer of silicon foam or silicon foam and rubber.

In certain embodiments, hinge area comprises the multiple links be preferably made up of the elastomer polymer of rubber or such as polyurethane.Link can be fibre-reinforced.

In certain embodiments, described equipment is also included in the alignment spaces part of the far-end of heater, and relative to framework, it is outstanding away from heater that described alignment spaces part is essentially perpendicular to heating plate.

In certain embodiments, described equipment has modular arrangements, and parts can be added or remove to change its total length thus.

In certain embodiments, adjacent heater electrical connection is to form electrical connection network in parallel.

In certain embodiments, adjacent heater electrical connection is to form the electrical connection network of series connection.

In certain embodiments, heating element comprises at least Liang Ge district, and each district provides heat or the infrared energy of varying level.These districts can be constructed such that each in district is incrementally more away from framework.Heating element also can comprise heat or the infrared energy of gradual change level, and wherein such as gradual change can from the part near framework of heating element to the part farthest away from framework of heating element.

In certain embodiments, heating element comprises at least one aperture, relative to providing the resistance of increase away from the resistance on the described heating element in described aperture near described aperture place.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of method for making the housing of pre-stretching be retracted to the outer surface sheath of pipeline in pipe coupling place, the method comprises: by housing around pipe coupling parcel or placement, to make housing overlapping with outer surface sheath on the either side of pipe coupling; Equipment as herein described is clamped to housing, to make described multiple parts around housing, each parts be clamped to housing with attachment face and its heating plate near the part of the housing overlapping with outer surface sheath; And electric energy is applied to heating plate, this heating plate utilizes described electric energy to carry out producing heat, and this heat makes housing shrinkage to outer surface sheath then.

According to a further aspect of the invention, provide a kind of method for making the housing of pre-stretching be retracted to the outer surface sheath of pipeline in pipe coupling place, the method comprises: by housing around pipe coupling parcel or placement, to make housing overlapping with outer surface sheath on the either side of pipe coupling; Equipment as herein described is clamped to outer surface sheath, is suspended on housing to make described multiple parts and around housing, each parts be clamped to outer surface sheath with attachment face and its heating plate near the part of the housing overlapping with outer surface sheath; And electric energy is applied to heating plate, this heating plate utilizes described electric energy to carry out producing heat, and this heat makes housing shrinkage to outer surface sheath then.In certain embodiments, electric energy be applied for high electric current, low voltage electric energy.

According to a further aspect of the invention, provide and a kind ofly construct equipment described herein to be clamped to the method for pipeline external surface sheath or housing, the method comprises: add or the parts of removing device are applicable to being clamped to required pipeline external surface sheath or total device length of housing to be formed.The removing to comprise of parts makes parts throw off at hinge area place.The interpolation of parts can comprise optional feature is connected to hinge area place.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of method for heating the elongated tubular bodies be arranged on around pipe coupling, the method comprises:

Equipment described herein is wrapped in around goods; And

Start described heater device.

In certain embodiments, when described equipment is wrapped in around goods, in fact described equipment do not contact these goods, but only contact pipeline.In other preferred embodiment, in fact described equipment do not contact pipeline, or have the contact of only minimum degree with pipeline, and main contact is and product into contact.

Traditionally, flame square is used for the end portion that heats as shown in Figure 5.For the present invention, heating equipment is wrapped on the outer surface sheath in contiguous shell end district, or in some configurations in shell end district, to make this device around the whole circumference of housing, and between device and housing, has uniform gap.

According to another aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of for heat be applied to around elongated tubular bodies can the method for thermal shrinkage housing, the method comprises: equipment described herein is wrapped in housing adjacent and is clamped to housing; And utilize described heater assembly to heat described housing.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 shows the schematic diagram of the typical conduit joint of district heating pipeline in the cross-section.

Fig. 2 shows the 3 D stereo schematic diagram of the pipe coupling of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3-5 shows art methods housing being applied to pipe coupling.

Fig. 6 shows the schematic diagram of the cross section of the equipment of the present invention being clamped to pipe coupling.

Fig. 7 shows the photo of equipment of the present invention.

Fig. 8-10 shows the 3 dimensional drawing of equipment of the present invention.

Figure 11 and Figure 12 shows the photo of the equipment of the present invention of the casing surroundings be clamped on pipeline.

Figure 13 and Figure 14 shows the schematic diagram of the cross section of the equipment of the present invention of the housing be clamped to around pipe coupling.

Figure 15 is the exploded perspective view of the parts of equipment of the present invention.

Figure 16 shows the bottom surface of the parts of equipment of the present invention.

Figure 17 shows the 3 dimensional drawing of equipment of the present invention.

Embodiment

The invention provides for heat around the pipe coupling that is such as applied to such as in district heating pipeline can the equipment of elongated tubular bodies of thermal shrinkage housing.This equipment can be carried on individual shoulder until it is ready to be used, and be wrapped in pipeline or casing surroundings, even if this pipeline at nearside by the pipeline side joint of the second general parallel orientation, even if and/or this pipeline have minimum apart from gap, ground or with between pipeline and channel bottom minimum apart from location, gap, ground in the trench, even if or have other obstacle of close pipeline.

Fig. 1 shows the sectional view of typical district heating pre insulated pipe coupling, two portion's sections of this pipe coupling join domain heat supply pipeline, such as, district heating pipeline 11 is connected to district heating pipeline pipeline 12.Pipeline 13 normally by one deck insulating material 14 (such as, cellular insulation thing) around steel pipeline, insulating material 14 again by outer surface sheath 16 around, outer surface sheath 16 is made up of such as poly polymeric material usually.Two portion's sections of metallic conduit 13 weld together at joint 17 place.Also show cavity or gap 10, it is in the region of pipe coupling 17 place around pipeline 13, and does not comprise insulating material or outer surface sheath.

Fig. 2 with to a certain extent schematically mode show the stereogram of the pipe coupling of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3-5 shows three sequential steps for being applied to by housing in tradition (prior art) method of the ducted joint of typical district heating.Pipeline 13 is soldered at joint 17 place, and by insulating material 14 and outer surface sheath 16 around.Applying on every side of the joint in end portion 15 region of the self adhesive tape 32,34 that Fig. 3 shows parcel on outer surface sheath 16.Self adhesive tape 32,34 is conducive to the bonding of housing 36.Sometimes, self adhesive tape 32,34 is incorporated into the internal surface in shell end district 15 by pre-bonding.Just housing 36 is placed on the top of joint upon application of next step shown in self adhesive tape 32,34, Fig. 4.Housing 36 is overlapping with outer surface sheath 16 at end portion 15 place, thus also with self adhesive tape 32,34 overlapping.Diameter due to housing 36 is greater than the diameter of outer surface sheath 16, there is gap 39 between outer surface sheath 16 and housing 36.Multiple spacer element 37 is used for forming consistent distance between housing 36 and outer surface sheath 16, that is, be used for guaranteeing that gap 39 has approximately identical length on the periphery of housing 36.Each spacer element 37 is generally " L " shape part of plastics or metal.One end of spacer element 37 is held in place by being pushed into insulating material 14; Housing 36 is shelved on an opposite end.

Once housing 36 is properly positioned as shown in Figure 4, housing 36 is just adhered to outer surface sheath 16, as shown in Figure 5.Flame square 35 is utilized to heat the part of the housing 36 near self adhesive tape 32,34.Alternatively and as shown in the figure, heat screen 38 is used for preventing the heat damages housing from flame square 35.Also show air gap 10.

Fig. 6 shows the sectional view of district heating pipeline, two portion's sections of its join domain heat supply pipeline or be provided with the district heating pipeline of equipment of the present invention above district heating pipeline portion's section being connected to.Equipment 50 comprises the multiple similar or identical parts 51 being wrapped in pipeline.Should be appreciated that owing to figure 6 illustrates sectional view, two in these parts 51 be only shown, one above pipeline 13, second below pipeline 13.Each parts 51 comprise fitting seat 52, and it can be installed on outer surface sheath 16.As shown in the figure, fitting seat 52 fixture is installed to outer surface sheath 16.Especially it should be noted that in some preferred embodiment, equipment 50 is also installed to housing 36 with fixture.This is counterintuitive, because housing is generally flexible, rigidity is lower, and may change diameter in thermal shrinkage process.

Fitting seat 52 is attached to framework 54, and framework 54 is attached to the device external housing 56 comprising heater 58 then.The form of heater 58 in resistive heating plate (not shown in Fig. 6).

Parts 51 also comprise heat screen 60, and heat screen 60 can contact housing 36 in use, and by space between equipment and housing 36 of the caloric restriction that generated by heater 58.In Fig. 6, terminal 62 is also shown, in the parts 51 of its connection device each and by power distribution in it.Spacer element 64 is optional, but is illustrated in figure 6, and it guarantees the minimum range limited between heater 58 and housing 36.

Fig. 7 shows the photo of equipment of the present invention, and this device attachment is to the typical prior art power supply of standard.Equipment 50 comprises multiple (in this example, 17) almost identical modular member 51.The figure shows the fitting seat 52 being connected to framework 54.The external casing 56 being connected to heat screen 60 is also shown in figure.The heater 58 in heating plate 59 form in the interior section of equipment 50 is also shown in figure.In this embodiment, heater 58 does not comprise spacer element.Each external casing 56 illustrates two terminals 62, and terminal 62 is connected by line 63.

Fig. 7 also illustrates the Placement of parts 51.Each in framework 54 is connected to each other by hinge area 66 in the hinge type assembly of flexibility.As shown in the figure, main hinge region 66 comprises multiple rubber connector 67, and it provides certain pliability, ductility and " bend ability (give) ", to allow equipment to be clamped on pipeline.But, in the embodiment utilizing compressible mounting mat 53 (hereafter further describing), main hinge region 66 can be made up of rigid connector, and wherein pliability, ductility and " bend ability " function are provided by compressible mounting mat 53 instead of link 67.Illustrate equally but optional be to a great extent far-end hinge area 68, it makes the configuration of parts 51 relative to each other stablize substantially.

Fig. 7 also illustrates electrical connector between the parts, and electrical connector is the form of terminal 62 and line 63.Adjacent component 51 is connected in outside by terminal 62 by line 63, to form the electrical connection network of parallel connection or series connection, meets the voltage or the current requirements that are connected to the power supply of equipment as required.The many lines 63 connecting adjacent component 51 form network, and electric power is supplied to all parts 51 by this network.Line 63 adds by inserting or extracting terminal 62 or removes.

Fig. 7 also illustrates the hole 69 in heating plate 59, and this some holes is used to provide the heat output from the side (near framework 54) of heating plate to the gradual change of opposite side (near heat screen 60).Will be further described below the heat output of this gradual change.

Fig. 8 shows the stereogram of the CAD figure of another embodiment of a part of the present invention.There is shown the equipment 50 comprising multiple parts 51, each parts have the framework 54 of the external casing 56 being connected to heater.In figure, main hinge region 66 is also shown.It should be noted that this embodiment does not have secondary hinge area 68, and not there is the outside terminal or line that are electrically connected each parts yet.On the contrary, the electrical connection between each parts 51 is below heater 58 inside, external casing 56, and not shown.Also show clamping zone 70 in Fig. 8, hereafter will be described further it.

Fig. 9 shows another stereogram of the CAD figure of another embodiment of equipment of the present invention.There is shown the equipment 50 comprising multiple parts 51, each parts have the framework 54 of the external casing 56 being connected to heater 58.In figure, main hinge region 66 is also shown, it comprises multiple rubber connector 67.In figure, heat screen 60 is also shown.Parts 51 near the bottom of figure are depicted as without external casing 56, to illustrate the parts of heater 58.Heater 58 comprises intermediate plate 57, and it is between heating plate 59 and external casing 56, and is connected to heating plate and external casing.As shown in the figure, should be appreciated that heating plate 59 major part is not shown, because it is positioned on the bottom of equipment, therefore this heater every bent at one end 180 degree, and has two join domains on the top of intermediate plate 57.Inside connecting groove 61 in intermediate plate 57 is also shown, it is used for line (not shown) to guide to next parts from parts 51, and is used for delivery of electrical energy to heating plate 59.Clamping zone 70 is also schematically depicted in more detail, and is used for one end of equipment 50 to be clamped to the other end, and is used for, when wrapping up around pipeline external surface sheath or housing and clamp, clamping circumference stress is provided to equipment 50.

Figure 10 shows the bottom surface of the equipment of Fig. 8.There is shown the equipment 50 with parts 51, each in parts 51 has the fitting seat 52 being connected to framework (not shown), and framework is connected to heater 58 then.Heater 58 comprises intermediate plate 57, external casing 56, heating plate 59 and heat screen 60.As shown in the figure, heating plate 59 comprises spacer element 64.Also show mounting mat 53 in Fig. 10, it is optional, but to be positioned on fitting seat 52 and to contact pipeline external surface sheath when equipment 50 is clamped to pipeline or housing.Mounting mat 53 can be or comprise compressible pad, and it provides pliability to adapt to the pipeline of different-diameter or different closed loop length.In some preferred embodiment, compressible pad is made up of viscoelastic foam.As discussed above, in the embodiment utilizing compressible mounting mat 53, main hinge region 66 can be made up of rigid connector instead of rubber connector 67, and wherein pliability, ductility and " bend ability " function are provided by compressible mounting mat 53 instead of rubber connector 67.

Figure 11 and Figure 12 shows the photo of equipment of the present invention in use.There is shown the pipeline 13 wrapped up with housing 36 and the equipment 50 be wrapped in around housing 36 and pipeline 13.Equipment 50 comprises multiple parts 51, and each parts have fitting seat 52, and equipment 50 is installed to the outer surface sheath 16 of pipeline 13 on fitting seat 52.Fitting seat 52 is parts of framework 54, and framework 54 is attached to the heater 58 comprising external casing 56, middle casing (not shown) and heating plate (not shown).Heat screen 60 and clamping zone 70 are also shown in figure.In this embodiment of the invention, can find out, line 63 connects by framework 54 and enters in intermediate plate 57, to be connected to heating plate (not shown).Then line 63 is connected to reference power supply 72.

In certain embodiments, equipment of the present invention is modular, and by adding or removing parts and scene is configured to required diameter.Hinge area 66 on each parts 51 forms the flexible-belt (the spitting image of watchband) be made up of multiple framework 54.In certain embodiments, heating plate 59 is resistive paper tinsel heater, deep penetration it to be tuned to the heat energy of 50-100% in infra-red range, and this device runs under high electric current, low-voltage configuration, at utmost to reduce the electric shock to user.Such as, it is found that, 8-35 volt, the electric current of 200 amperes can be heated to about 400 DEG C heating plate 59, and for the shell dimension of diameter 355mm, this is the enough heats for shrinking housing 63 and be adhered to outer surface sheath 16.This is by the Power supply of 5KW.The benefit of the electrical configurations of such uniqueness is, although it can provide enough heat to make housing shrinkage, the personnel of unexpected contact zones electric wire can not be subject to grievous injury.In addition, if the linear contact lay water of parts and/or mud, it can not short circuit.In order to meet safety described by equipment and functional requirement, through determining, voltage should maintain less than 40 volts, preferably less than 25 volts.Also find, make the amperage needed for the housing shrinkage of line size in the scope of 50mm to 1200mm be 15 – 300 amperes, preferably in the scope of 40 – 200 amperes.It is found that, for powering to cover the power supply of this scope to equipment within the scope of 0.5 – 15KW, and preferably within the scope of 1-8KW.

In certain embodiments, each parts 51 are connected in series with external cable.In other embodiments, parts are connected with inside cable.

Be important to note that, in certain embodiments, as shown in Figure 6, the mounting portion of hinge area is arranged on outer surface sheath 16, and wherein heater is suspended on housing 36.But, in other preferred embodiment, as figs 11-13, the mounting portion of thermal region be arranged on housing from it, wherein heater section is suspended on housing, and heat screen 60 forms heat shield when its contact outer surface sheath 16.In these embodiments, this device contacts housing (although in fact heating plate itself does not contact housing) actually by fitting seat 52.

Also show spacer element 74 in fig. 13, its be used as aim at auxiliary member, with by fitting seat 52 and therefore heater 58 be placed on lengthwise position place suitable on housing 36.In fact housing 36 is guided to the correct position on pipeline by this.Alternatively, spacer element 74 also serves as auxiliary supports by being shelved on outer surface sheath 16.

As shown in the figure, clamping zone 70 has 4 inch stroke from being opened to closedown, but can provide the stroke of 1-10 inch according to line size.Clamping zone allows two engaged at end of equipment, and is clamped to pipeline or housing.

Figure 14 shows the schematic cross sectional views of the equipment of the present invention 50 being clamped to housing 36.Equipment 50 comprises mounting mat 53, and mounting mat 53 is connected to fitting seat 52 sections of framework 54, and framework is connected to the external casing 56 holding heating plate 59.Spacer element 74 makes equipment 50 be registered to correct position on housing 36, to provide heat at this correct position place.The spacer element 76 of the spacer element 37 be equal in prior art Fig. 3-4 is also shown in fig. 14, and it is used for housing 36 and outer surface sheath 16 to separate suitable distance, makes around the circumference of housing 36, distance between housing with outer surface sheath substantially equal.

Figure 15 shows the exploded view of parts 51 of described equipment.Comprise the framework 54 of hinge area 66 shown in figure, hinge area 66 is made up of rubber connector 67.The intermediate plate 57 linked appended by heating plate 59 is also shown in figure.Only the end of heating plate 59 is illustrated, because they are wrapped in around intermediate plate 57; The main region of heating plate 59 below intermediate plate 57, as shown in the figure.In figure, spacer element 78 is also shown, it provides the minimum range defined between heating plate 59 and housing 36 when equipment is applied to housing, and prevents heating plate 59 from contacting housing 36.The external casing 56 and terminal 62 and the line 63 being connected described terminal 62 that comprise heat screen 60 are also shown.Time hinge area 68 is also shown in figure.In certain embodiments, spacer element 78 and heat screen 60 can be made up of parts.

Figure 16 shows the bottom surface of the parts 51 of equipment.This bottom surface is the side being clamped to housing 36.There is shown the mounting mat 53 on the lower surface of the fitting seat 52 of the part as framework 54.In figure, heating plate 59 is also shown, it comprises ceramic spacers 64 and hole 69.Should be appreciated that hole 69 increases resistance in the part of the heating plate 59 away from mounting mat 53, and therefore in use, the part than the heating plate 59 near mounting mat 53 is provided more heats and IR energy by the part away from the heating plate 59 of mounting mat 53.Spacer element 78 and heat screen 60 are also shown in figure.

Figure 17 shows equipment of the present invention, and it comprises clamping zone 70 and multiple parts 51.As shown in the figure, external casing 56 not on the parts with clamping zone 70, thus can see intermediate plate 57 and heating plate 59.Should be appreciated that in use, external casing 56 can exist.

As described herein, this equipment be simple, can be mass, manufacture, use and running cost low, and be portable.In the application of many prior aries, for housing to be fixed on the propane container that the heaviest and the hugest object of contractor on pipeline is 20 pounds at pipe welding seam place, its roughly gross weight adding top hose and flame square is 25-30 pound.Light, the safe equipment of equipment of the present invention replaces this object, and this equipment is easily carried by a people, and and/or can carry safely under harsh climate in the irrigation canals and ditches closed.

In certain embodiments, heating plate 59 for different heats by tuning and calibration, wherein more near spacer element 74 heat, and framework 54 end heat less (few about 25-35%).This is realized by providing holes 69 in heating plate 59, and this changes the resistance of the heating plate 59 in the region of surrounding hole 69.

In certain embodiments, heating plate 59 scribbles radioactivity high temp. coating, to improve the transmissivity of medium to LONG WAVE INFRARED radiation.Heating plate 59 also can be configured to by multiple material or multiple sections, be laminated or engaged at end to provide the heating effect of subregion.Heating plate 59 also can be partitioned Cheng Ge district controlled individually or throttling to produce the heating effect of subregion.

In certain embodiments, spacer element 64 is fixed to heating plate 59.Spacer element 64 is heat-resisting, usual pottery, and is used for keeping the minimum range between heating plate 59 and housing 36.Usually undesirably heating plate 59 contacts housing 36 when hot.

Intermediate plate 57 is preferably injection molding heat-resistant housing.Main hinge region 66 comprises multiple link 67, it typically is rubber and can be that fiber or nylon strengthen.Link 67 provides a certain amount of bend ability and elasticity, to allow equipment to be clamped to housing 36 or outer surface sheath 16.

Fitting seat 52 is generally high temperature flexible foam, and such as, the bilayer of silicon foam or silicon foam and rubber pad, to provide extra elasticity and pliability for clamping.

In certain embodiments, equipment is measuring of the voltage utilized on line and to set electric current thermostatically controlled.In certain embodiments, equipment comprises one or more temperature transducer, and it can detect surface temperature when process starts and automatically adjust circulation.

When apply noncrosslinking can thermal shrinkage housing time, equipment is particularly advantageous.Belmaflex A/S (Danish law rope company (Farso, Denmark)) manufacture noncrosslinking can thermal shrinkage housing, this housing tackiness agent is adhered to sheath.These housings are made by making the housing extruded expand under close to poly fusing point, and the housing therefore expanded has a large amount of cold stress.Although housing will easily shrink when applying enough heats, when applying slightly excessive heat, housing can exceed fusing point, and loses contractility, otherwise then start due to thermal expansion coefficient " becoming large ".Therefore, it can provide few circumference stress and may can have gap between housing and substrate.Equipment of the present invention is for especially favourable non-crosslinked housing, because they have very narrow hot input window for appropriate applying.By providing controlled heat at such casing surroundings, thus eliminate any excessive heating, equipment of the present invention can provide so accurate heat.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the additional advantage of equipment of the present invention is, it can be assemblied in the pipeline with very limited pipe path, such as, and the pipeline in the irrigation canals and ditches of excavation with the second parallelpiped that next-door neighbour extends.Usually, district heating pipeline has little gap (about 1 foot) between two pipelines extended in parallel; This gap below pipeline is usually little of 9 inches.Equipment needs very little space to be assembled to pipeline on every side of pipeline, can be assembled into when duct bottom place has very little spacing around pipeline.

Equipment of the present invention another improvement is compared to existing technology, this equipment when being assembled to pipeline self-supporting on housing.This provide the consistant mass of housing shrinkage, because in fact contributing to the housing of heat to be evenly distributed in pipeline external surface coating by device being clamped to the circumference stress that housing is given.

Legend

Gap 10

Pipeline 11

Pipeline 12

Pipeline 13

Insulating material 14

End portion region 15

Outer surface sheath 16

Joint 17

Self adhesive tape 32,34

Flame square 35

Housing 36

Spacer element 37

Heat screen 38

Gap 39

Equipment 50

Parts 51

Fitting seat 52

Mounting mat 53

Framework 54

External casing 56

Intermediate plate 57

Heater 58

Heating plate 59

Heat screen 60

Inner connecting groove 61

Terminal 62

Line 63

Spacer element 64

Main hinge region 66

Rubber connector 67

Secondary hinge area 68

Hole 69

Clamping zone 70

Power supply 72

Claims

1. can the equipment of thermal shrinkage housing for heating, described can thermal shrinkage housing around pre insulated ducted joint and be arranged on around described joint, with by one or more end part seal or the outer surface sheath being adhered to described pipeline, described equipment comprises:

Multiple parts, each parts have:

Framework, described framework comprises the mounting zone with attachment face;

Be attached to the heater of described framework, described heater comprises heating plate and heat-resisting external casing;

At least one hinge area, described multiple parts are connected to each other by described hinge area, and to form flexibility, the hinge segment with two ends, described hinge segment is constructed such that the described attachment face of each parts is towards identical direction;

Described multiple parts are electrically connected to each other, electric energy can be provided to described heating plate to make single power supply;

Described equipment also comprises join domain, described join domain can described two ends of described hinge segment of connecting frame with the circular array of forming member, each parts have towards the attachment face at the center of described circular array and heating plate and towards outer external casing.

2. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described hinge area is positioned on described framework.

3. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described heater also comprises the heat screen be positioned at away from described framework place.

4. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, is also included in the heat-resisting spacer element on described heating plate, contacts described outer surface sheath to prevent described heating plate when operating.

5. equipment according to claim 4, is characterized in that, described heat-resisting spacer element is pottery.

6. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described join domain is fixture.

7. equipment according to claim 6, is characterized in that, described fixture has the stroke of 1 to 12 inch.

8. equipment according to claim 7, is characterized in that, described fixture has the stroke of about 4 inches.

9. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described attachment face comprises high temperature flexible foam, the bilayer of preferred silicon foam or high temperature flexible foam and rubber.

10. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described hinge area comprises multiple link.

11. equipment according to claim 8, is characterized in that, described link is the elastomer polymer of rubber or such as polyurethane.

12. equipment according to claim 11, is characterized in that, described link is fibre-reinforced.

13. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, are also included in the alignment spaces part of the far-end of described heater, and relative to described framework, described alignment spaces part is essentially perpendicular to described heating plate and gives prominence to away from described heater.

14. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, adjacent heater electrical connection is to form electrical connection network in parallel.

15. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, adjacent heater electrical connection is to form the electrical connection network of series connection.

16. equipment according to claim 1, are further characterized in that modular configuration, and parts can be added or remove the total length changing described equipment thus.

17. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described heating element comprises at least Liang Ge district, and each district provides heat or the infrared energy of varying level.

18. equipment according to claim 17, is characterized in that, each in described at least Liang Ge district is incrementally more away from described framework.

19. equipment according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described heating element comprises heat or the infrared energy of gradual change level.

20. equipment according to claim 19, is characterized in that, gradual change is the part from a part for the described heating element near described framework to the described heating element farthest away from described framework.

21. according to claim 17 to the equipment described in any one in 20, and it is characterized in that, described heating element comprises at least one aperture, relative to away from the resistance on the described heating element in described aperture at the resistance providing increase near described aperture place.

22. 1 kinds, for the method making the housing of pre-stretching be retracted to the outer surface sheath of pipeline in pipe coupling place, comprising:

By housing around described pipe coupling parcel or placement, to make described housing overlapping with described outer surface sheath on the either side of described pipe coupling;

Equipment according to any one in claim 1 to 19 is clamped to described housing, to make described multiple parts around described housing, each parts are clamped to described housing with attachment face, and its heating plate is near a part for the described housing overlapping with described outer surface sheath; And

Electric energy is applied to described heating plate, and described heating plate utilizes described electric energy to carry out producing heat, and described heat makes described housing shrinkage to described outer surface sheath then.

23. 1 kinds, for the method making the housing of pre-stretching be retracted to the outer surface sheath of pipeline in pipe coupling place, comprising:

Equipment according to any one in claim 1 to 19 is clamped to described outer surface sheath, to be suspended on described housing to make described multiple parts and around described housing, each parts are clamped to described outer surface sheath with attachment face, and its heating plate is near a part for the described housing overlapping with described outer surface sheath; And

24. methods according to any one in claim 22 to 23, is characterized in that, electric energy be applied for high electric current, low voltage electric energy.

The equipment of 25. 1 kinds of structures according to any one in claim 1 to 21, to be clamped to the method for pipeline external surface sheath or housing, comprising:

Add or remove the parts of described equipment, be applicable to being clamped to required pipeline external surface sheath or total device length of housing to be formed.

26. methods according to claim 25, is characterized in that, the interpolation of parts or remove and be included in described hinge area place described parts are thrown off.

27. equipment according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, there is electrical configurations and power requirements, described electrical configurations and power requirements in operation: (a) can make described housing shrinkage, b () is not subject to Effect of Short Circuit when being exposed to water, and (c) can not make user suffer serious electric shock.

28. equipment according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, described equipment uses together with power supply, and described power supply has below 40 volts, the power of the preferably voltage of less than 25 volts, the electric current of 15-300 ampere, preferably 40-200 ampere and 0.5-15KW, preferably 1-8KW.